Daily Times

The Embassy of Republic of Kazakhstan and Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) on Saturday organised the screening of the film ‘Myn Bala – Warriors of the Steppe’.

The film screening was attended by Convenor Pak-Kazakhstan Friendship Group in the Senate Senator Manzoor Ahmed Kakar, Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Pakistan Barlybay Saadykov, PNCA Director General Jamal Shah, diplomats and people from different walks of life.

‘Myn Bala – Warriors of the Steppe’ is a Kazakhstani historical dramatic film featuring actual events during the 18th Century war fought between the Kazakhs and the Dzhungars. The title of the film is translated as ‘The Thousand Boys’ who fought for freedom and independence of their Motherland.

The film was selected as the Kazakhstani entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 85th Academy Awards. It was made to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Kazakhstan’s independence from the Soviet Union.

A historic adventure film shot in Kazakhstan by director Akan Satayev, is a story about the freedom of the human spirit and the struggle against slavery.

The film was selected as the Kazakhstani entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 85th Academy Awards. It was made to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Kazakhstan’s independence from the Soviet Union

The film revolves around the life of young Sarati, a Kazakh teenager faced with a war, his love and betrayal who discovers his own strength, and assembles a detachment of teenage warriors called ‘myn bala’ (‘a thousand boys’ in Kazakh). They would become legends, playing a decisive role in the liberation of Kazakhstan from its oppressors.

The country had already been suffering for years from the devastating occupation by a powerful tribe called Dzhungars. Dzhungar troops had taken over ancient Kazakh lands and a third of the nation had perished. The screening is supported by the Kazakh Film Studios.

The film screening was followed by a photo exhibition Kazakhstan Through Centuries featuring historical moments, traditions, cultural values, religious convictions, life style and other images of Kazakhstan. Speaking on the occasion, Ambassador of Kazakhstan said that the event was especially dedicated to the culture and history of Pakistan. He said that exhibition was depicting some historical places and promoting cultural traditions of Kazakhstan.